The cold weather and downright frigid temperatures are set to continue at least until the mid-week, so the Tennessee Valley Authority is offering some tips on how to save on energy costs.
There are many measures you can take to help heat your home while keeping your bills as low as possible, including taking advantage of the sun by opening your curtains during the day and letting that sun in, making sure all your vents are open and not blocked and turning off non-essential appliances during peak demand times.
One of the best ways to save is by lowering your thermostat as much as you’re comfortable with—Ashley England with EnergyRight says each degree you lower it can save as much as three-percent on your energy bill.
Commercial businesses are encouraged to turn off any lights and office equipment when it’s not in use and cut off the HVAC when no one is in the building. England says the peak energy use times are in the mornings and in the afternoon, so if you can avoid using more energy than necessary during those times, it’ll go a long way to saving on costs.
The TVA isn’t leaving all the work to the consumer however, as they’ve made significant investments into infrastructure and winterizing equipment and facilities to keep reliability strong—so says Eric Grau with the TVA.
Don’t forget to protect vulnerable pipes from freezing by wrapping them or slow dripping a faucet during the overnight hours to keep the water flowing.